tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967Thu, 08 Sep 2016 04:32:56 +0000Recipes and Snack Ideasweekly resultsworkoutsblog award12 week challengeweekend warrior17 day dietbooksChallengeweight watchersNothing Tastes as Good as Skinny FeelsStarting in May of 2010 I began a journey to lose 100 pounds. I began this blog to hold me accountable and to allow me to journal my experience. I also hope that it helps inspire other people to lose weight and exercise. Since starting I have decided to increase my goal to 110 pounds.http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (C Smith)Blogger396125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967.post-1122289259365652152Tue, 24 Sep 2013 11:37:00 +00002013-09-24T07:37:00.232-04:00Crazy WeekLast week was crazy. &nbsp;I had volunteered at Hudson's school, we went to Nashville for the weekend and during the week I had lots of other things going on. &nbsp;Sadly, I didn't lose any weight this week...but I didn't gain any either! &nbsp;I tend to do so well during the week. &nbsp;I meal plan, stay at home, exercise and cook yummy foods and eat healthy snacks. &nbsp;The weekends kill me! &nbsp;We play too much! &nbsp;Can that be true? &nbsp;The weekends are usually filled with less workouts and more eating out. &nbsp;I have really got to work on having a cheat meal instead of a cheat weekend. <br /><br />I have tons of recipes to post and will do that later this afternoon. &nbsp;I have all our meals planned for this week and looking forward to trying some new things. &nbsp;:) &nbsp;Over the weekend I definitely had some wheat and sugar. &nbsp;Like I said, I like my pizza with crust and my hamburgers with buns. &nbsp;We went to the funnest burger place in Nashville with some friends. &nbsp;It was called The Pharmacy. &nbsp;They have an old fashion soda fountain and the kids loved it. &nbsp;The burgers and BUNS were the best I've ever had. <br /><br />This week is crazy too but I think in a good way for weight loss. &nbsp;My friend and fellow Zumba instructor got in a car wreck yesterday and while she is okay she got a mild concussion and whip lash. I am covering her classes this week which means I just picked up 2 more classes (5 this week). &nbsp;A little extra cardio never hurt :)<br /><br />Gotta run but I'll post some recipes soon.http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2013/09/crazy-week.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C Smith)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967.post-1306657345914513488Tue, 17 Sep 2013 11:56:00 +00002013-09-17T07:56:41.549-04:00Week 2: Weigh InSo, I lost another <b>1.9</b> pounds this week. &nbsp;Not what I was hoping for but at least it is moving in the right direction. &nbsp;I would really like to lose a minimum of 2 each week. &nbsp;I really need to teach myself to only weigh once a week because the fluctuations from looking every day can really mess with you. &nbsp;How can one semi bad day make you gain 3 pounds or one really good day make you lose 4? &nbsp;I do believe that it is calories in and calories out overtime but your body changes daily with water and this weight can be so confusing. <br /><br />So what is the exact science behind losing weight? &nbsp;Most people don't truly understand that it is math! &nbsp;A single pound is 3500 calories. &nbsp;So if you want to lose a pound you have to burn 3500 calories more than you take it. &nbsp;I want to lose 2 pounds a week so that means that I have to burn 7000 more than I take in within the week. &nbsp;If you break that down then it is about a 1000 calorie deficit every day. &nbsp;You can achieve this one of three ways: eat less, exercise more or a combo of both. &nbsp;The combo is the easiest. &nbsp;It would be hard to eat that few calories or exercise that much but if you do both! &nbsp;That is great! <br />I will post more about this soon. &nbsp;I want to cover things like basal metabolic rate and how many calories are in carbs, protein, fats, etc. &nbsp;These are all things that people should understand, even if you aren't trying to lose weight. &nbsp;It is basic science!<br /><br />I am so close to a new threshold on my weight were the digit in the 10's place goes down. &nbsp;I am going to try very very hard to make it there this week. &nbsp;I'll need to lose a full 2 pounds! &nbsp;Wish me luck!http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2013/09/week-2-weigh-in.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C Smith)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967.post-8067615259353140612Tue, 17 Sep 2013 11:48:00 +00002013-09-17T07:48:48.263-04:00Day 14Since I was feeling bad about the weekend I tried to really clean up my diet on this day and eat cleaner meals. &nbsp;When I talk about eating clean that pretty much means only eating foods that God made. &nbsp;Not eating processed foods but more natural foods. &nbsp;These include: milk, eggs, meat, fruits, and vegetables. <br /><br />Have you ever tried to eat clean for a week? &nbsp;It is harder than it sounds. &nbsp;It is amazing how many processed foods we eat. &nbsp;From cereal, bread, and pasta to lean cuisines and instant potatoes. &nbsp;I actually try to avoid a lot of the processed foods but what can I say, "I like a bun with my hamburger" and "I like bread on my sandwich". &nbsp;So many things are processed! &nbsp;Pretty much all the stuff in the middle aisles of the grocery: crackers, granola bars, chips, canned foods, baked goods, etc. <br /><br />Try eating clean for a week! &nbsp;It is a challenge!<br /><br />Last night I also had Zumba and I am not sure why but I just got this extra jolt of energy in the class. We literally killed it! &nbsp;I almost felt like I was bouncing off the walls. &nbsp;I wish every class was like that! http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2013/09/day-14.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C Smith)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967.post-880621019140566604Tue, 17 Sep 2013 11:43:00 +00002013-09-17T07:43:33.504-04:00Greek Chicken & Quinoa Salad<br /><b>Greek Chicken</b><div>Chicken thighs or breasts</div><div>1 C plain greek yogurt</div><div>2 TBSP olive oil</div><div>4 cloves garlic</div><div>1/2 tsp oregano</div><div>1/2 lemon (zested and juiced)</div><div>1/2 tsp salt</div><div>1/2 tsp fresh cracked pepper</div><div>1/4 C fresh parsley chopped fine</div><div><br /></div><div>Put all ingredients in a plastic bag and marinate for at least an hour. &nbsp;You can grill the chicken or bake it in the oven at 350. &nbsp;You may eat it separately or I like to chop it up and serve it on top of my quinoa salad with tzatziki sauce. &nbsp;I also like to add it to a pita pocket with more greek veggies and tzatziki sauce. <span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>(from recipefavorite.com)</i></span></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Quinoa Salad</b></div><div>Prepare your quinoa (1 C quinoa, 2 C water or broth)</div><div>+ greek vegetables</div><div><ul><li>artichoke hearts</li><li>olives</li><li>tomato</li><li>purple onion</li><li>cucumber</li><li>feta cheese</li></ul></div><div>Pour some balsamic vinaigrette over the top. &nbsp;I like to put about 1/2 C on the whole salad and then stir well. &nbsp;The quinoa and veggies will saturate it up. &nbsp;Chill for at least one hour. &nbsp;If you need to add more dressing, you can when you serve it. &nbsp;This salad is super yummy and fresh tasting! <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(by Cheryl)</span></i></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Tzatziki Sauce</b></div><div><ul><li>1 C Plain Greek yogurt</li><li>1 TBSP Lemon zest and juice (you could also use white vinegar)</li><li>1 Cucumber peeled/seeded and chopped fine</li><li>2-4 tsp garlic</li><li>2 tsp olive oil</li><li>to taste-salt &amp; pepper</li><li>1/2 TBSP dill (fresh is best)</li></ul><div>These are estimates. &nbsp;I taste as I go, some people like more/less vinegar or lemon.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2013/09/greek-chicken-quinoa-salad.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C Smith)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967.post-6015396464140859192Tue, 17 Sep 2013 11:28:00 +00002013-09-17T07:28:44.017-04:00Days 12 & 13 (The weekend)The weekend was not good. &nbsp;I totally went off plan. &nbsp;I had a sandwich one day, Travis took the family to pizza one night (I only had one piece) and I totally indulged in a small bowl of ice cream! &nbsp;Yikes. &nbsp;It seems like once you head down the slippery slope it is easy to keep sliding. &nbsp;Not every choice was bad but there were a few major flaws. <br /><br />It was a busy weekend though. &nbsp;Saturday I had Zumba and then we power washed our deck. &nbsp;Sunday I taught a pro bono CPR class for all the childcare volunteers at my church. &nbsp; The weekend just seemed to go by fast. http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2013/09/days-12-13-weekend.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C Smith)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967.post-1438990648016094576Sat, 14 Sep 2013 12:23:00 +00002013-09-14T08:33:13.748-04:00Day 10 & 11<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To be honest, I can't remember a whole lot about these days except that I survived them. Just seems like I have been super busy lately. &nbsp;Definitely doing lots of taxi trips with the kids, etc. &nbsp;Thursday I ate really clean and had a good Zumba class. &nbsp;It was throwback Thursday so we did some old songs that we hadn't done in a long long time. &nbsp;It was fun. &nbsp;One benefit to teaching Zumba is drinking lots of water; in a single class I can easily consume 30oz. &nbsp;Thursday night I made this awesome Balsamic Pork Roast and some broccoli/cauliflower salad. &nbsp;Recipes below.</span><br /> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> 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Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <div class="MsoNormal"><b><br /></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>Balsamic Glazed Pork Roast</b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;"><i>Ingredients:</i></span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1 (2 pound) boneless pork tenderloin (or regular pork loin)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1 teaspoon ground sage<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1/2 teaspoon salt<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">1/4 teaspoon pepper<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">1 clove garlic, crushed</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">1/2 cup water</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Glaze</span></em><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">1/2 cup brown sugar</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">1 tablespoon cornstarch</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">1/4 cup balsamic vinegar</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">1/2 cup water</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">2 tablespoons soy sauce</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Directions:</span></strong><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Combine sage, salt, pepper and garlic. Rub over roast. Place in slow cooker with 1/2 cup water. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. About 1 hour before roast is done, combine ingredients for glaze in small sauce pan. Heat and stir until mixture thickens. Brush roast with glaze 2 or 3 times during the last hour of cooking. Serve with remaining glaze on the side.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="background: white; line-height: 13.5pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: x-small; line-height: 13.5pt;">(original recipe:&nbsp;http://www.candcmarriagefactory.com/2011/01/brown-sugar-and-balsamic-glazed-pork.html)</span></div><!--EndFragment--><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></b><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Broccoli/Cauliflower Salad</b><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">1 small head of broccoli and cauliflower chopped</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">1/2 purple onion</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">6 slices of bacon</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">1/2 C slivered almonds</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">1/2 C sunflower seeds</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">1 C raisins and/or craisins</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Dressing: 3/4 C light olive oil mayo, 2 TBSP rice vinegar, 2.5 TBSP sugar or splenda</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">(This makes a very large salad, so you may want to make it smaller)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Yesterday was day 11. &nbsp;I had promised Reese that I would take her to a special lunch at Chic-fil-a and she could play at the playground. &nbsp;I had 8 grilled chicken nuggets and also against my better judgement I had some french fries (I figured I deserved a treat and they were gluten free, right?). &nbsp;This really wouldn't have been so bad except that I had 3 very (almost too) ripe bananas on the counter. &nbsp;I hate to see them go to waste so I quickly made two loaves of banana bread. &nbsp;My intention was to give one loaf to a friend and one loaf to a neighbor. &nbsp;I didn't use oil, I subbed out for applesauce and I was out of nuts so I saved some calories by omitting them. &nbsp;I gave one loaf away but when I asked my neighbor if she wanted a loaf, she said no thank you. &nbsp;Long story, short...I ended up eating two slices. &nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I made a greek dinner. &nbsp;It was super yummy. &nbsp;I made greek chicken, quinoa salad and tzatziki sauce. &nbsp;It is very tasty, healthy and fresh. &nbsp;I will post the recipes a little later. &nbsp;</span>http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2013/09/day-10-11.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C Smith)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967.post-3205592349697316014Thu, 12 Sep 2013 11:51:00 +00002013-09-12T07:51:29.751-04:00UpdateSome of you may remember that I started this challenge with my mother-in-law after their recent visit here to TN. &nbsp;I committed to eating like her (gluten and sugar free) if she agreed to exercise like me (at least 4x per week, 30 minutes a day). <br /><br />I am proud to report that she called me last night and she is doing really well. &nbsp; She has done walking in her neighborhood, she has walked on her treadmill and even rode her bike several times. &nbsp;I am happy that we are both doing this and holding each other accountable.<br /><br />Sometimes eating healthy is hard, exercise is hard but I think so many of us take our bodies for granted. We have strong and able bodies! &nbsp;I have a friend that is in a wheelchair; he would do anything in this world to be able to run...we can run but instead most of us chose to sit. &nbsp;There are people in hospitals eating cafeteria bland diets or even being fed intravenously and would love to just eat a healthy meal...we take all of this for granted!<br /><br />When my mother in law was visiting I insisted that we go on a bike ride at the greenbelt. &nbsp;It is a relatively easy, paved, flat trail. &nbsp;I think she was a little apprehensive but she did great. &nbsp;We went 5 miles and we all lived to tell about it. &nbsp;While cycling we saw a man in an electric wheel chair enjoying the day and taking in the views of the water and trees; how lucky we were to be able to see the beauty from a bicycle and not a wheelchair. <br /><br />Don't take this life for granted. &nbsp;Use your body! &nbsp;Fuel it, take care of it and use it! http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2013/09/update.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C Smith)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967.post-8255811690049212952Thu, 12 Sep 2013 11:44:00 +00002013-09-12T07:44:35.399-04:00Day 9Yesterday was kind of a crazy day. &nbsp;It is definitely difficult to get into a new routine or waking kids up at 6:20 and having them out the door by 7:10. &nbsp;I am so thankful that Travis takes the kids to school because it would waste so much time in the morning for me and it is on his way. &nbsp;I do really good if I have a project, whether it be cleaning, CPR work, etc if I can wake up and get started on it. &nbsp;However, that first trip to town kind of throws a wrench in it all and when I get home I don't have that same drive. That is why going to the gym in the morning is kind of a problem for me. &nbsp;I get a great workout but then I get home and feel worthless. &nbsp;I am tired and sweaty and its hard to get into a good groove and flow to start doing chores or whatever it is I have that day.<br /><br />Yesterday, I had a meeting early with the Chamber of Commerce about CPR Choice. &nbsp;Then I had to rush to be at the Hudson's school at 10:30 because I had promised I would eat lunch with him. &nbsp;Yep, they eat lunch at 10:30! &nbsp;Crazy. &nbsp;I packed a lunch of left over cranberry pork loin and some rice with a few raw carrots. <br /><br />Once I got home I got into the throws of CPR. &nbsp;This is a huge change for me as I never have had time to really work on it in the past. &nbsp;Wednesdays both kids go to school from 8-2:30 so it is my day to get real work done. &nbsp;I had a few snacks at my desk but I forgot to lay out the meat to defrost. &nbsp;I was tired at the end of the day and didn't really have dinner prepared so we all just fended for ourselves. &nbsp;Travis grilled up some hotdogs for the kids and I just munched on miscellaneous things, yogurt, apple, cheese, smart popcorn.<br /><br />The day didn't go as planned but I think it was still a success! http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2013/09/day-9.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C Smith)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967.post-9151699406290805601Wed, 11 Sep 2013 00:31:00 +00002013-09-10T20:31:41.463-04:00Day 8I lost 2 Lbs exactly this week. &nbsp;I think I actually lost a little more but like I said, I am retaining a little extra water right now.<br /><br />Today was a crazy day! &nbsp;I had a CPR class early this morning and then had to run some errands, pick up Reese, volunteer at the church, pick up Hudson and then I was home for about an hour before it was time to take kids to karate. &nbsp;I wasn't home much at all.<br /><br />Eating wasn't great in that I didn't eat enough at the right times. &nbsp;For breakfast I ate a banana, when I picked up Reese at noon I had an apple and I didn't actually eat anything of substance until I got home around 3PM. &nbsp;I ate some chicken salad and a couple of nut thins with cheddar spread. &nbsp;Then around 6:15 I had a small piece of left over pork roast from last night and 1/2 C of rice. &nbsp;I also had 2 dark chocolate squares (instead of 1)! <br /><br />Still feeling good though and feeling like I am on track for success. &nbsp;When I stopped at the church around 1, I was hungry and there was pizza and cookies there and I resisted. &nbsp;For that I am proud!<br /><br />&nbsp;<i>Zumba</i> last night was great. &nbsp; I was so tired and totally not feeling it but then the lights turned off, the music turned up and it was a great time and a great workout! &nbsp;It is fun working out with friends, I am so glad that I have made relationships with so many of my <i>Zumba</i> peeps. &nbsp;It has been life changing for me and I am getting to do what I have always loved....Dance!http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2013/09/day-8.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C Smith)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967.post-5704185543987940953Mon, 09 Sep 2013 19:46:00 +00002013-09-09T15:46:55.286-04:00Day 7Temptations are so hard! &nbsp;I am snack helper for my daughters preschool class tomorrow and my favorite thing to make in the fall is apple slices with caramel puffed corn. &nbsp;I shouldn't have made it, I should of just bought a box of squeeze yogurt...but the Pinterest mom inside of me told me to make something so yummy and homemade. &nbsp;A good chef always tries her food, right? &nbsp;Ok, lets not beat around the bush...I had a large handful of caramel corn and it was super yummy. &nbsp;I am naughty!<br /><br />I woke up early and got busy on some chores and didn't eat any breakfast. &nbsp;Bad Cheryl! &nbsp;By 10:45 I was getting pretty hungry but didn't want to spoil my lunch so I totally had my lunch early. &nbsp;I had left over taco salad and it was so yummy. &nbsp;For dinner we are having cranberry pork loin and a small green salad. &nbsp;Other than the caramel corn I have been on task with my diet. &nbsp;I haven't had any snacks today and don't even feel hungry. &nbsp;I have Zumba tonight and I am looking forward to burning some calories, hopefully a few extra calories. <br /><br />Tomorrow morning is the end of week one. &nbsp;While I haven't been perfect I have definitely be conscious of my decisions and food choices. &nbsp;I am kind of sad because I am retaining some extra water right now, it should be gone in a few days...if you know what I mean?? Hopefully it doesn't discourage my weight loss too much. &nbsp;I'll be reporting in the morning, my progress. <br /><br /><b>Cranberry Pork Loin</b><br />1.5-3 Lb Pork Loin<br />1 can whole cranberry sauce<br />1/4 C worshestire sauce<br />1 TBSP brown sugar<br />1 tsp mustard<br />1 tsp dehyrated onion<br /><br />Put all the ingredients into slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours. &nbsp;I personally like to cook mine a few hours and then drain off all the liquid and then add the rest of the ingredients (mixed together). This recipe isn't the best looking but it tastes great. &nbsp;It is good served with rice, potato, sweet potato or salad.http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2013/09/day-7.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C Smith)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967.post-6522596245984752752Mon, 09 Sep 2013 01:24:00 +00002013-09-08T21:24:31.276-04:00Day 6I am pretty proud of myself. &nbsp;My kids had a birthday party at the bowling alley this afternoon from around 1:30-4. &nbsp;I knew there would be foods that I couldn't eat so I packed some snacks for me. &nbsp;I had a helping of chicken salad for lunch and then packed some nut thins w/ cheese spread and an apple with some peanut butter dip. &nbsp;At the party they had cake, ice cream, chips, pizza and grapes. &nbsp;I cut my apple, grabbed some grapes and ate my cheese and crackers. &nbsp;Everyone indulged and I can honestly say that I really didn't even crave it. <br /><br />My problem is ability to stop! &nbsp;If I am abstaining I seem to be okay, it is once I indulge and eat one cookie that it turns into five. &nbsp;I really need to work on self control. <br /><br />Tonight I made Catalina taco salad. &nbsp;It was super easy and really good. &nbsp;I have plenty left over to have for lunch tomorrow.<br /><ul id="zlrecipe-ingredients-list" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; font-family: 'Century Gothic', Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; list-style: none; margin: 1em; padding: 0px 0px 0px 2.4em; vertical-align: baseline;"><li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-0" itemprop="ingredients" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><b>Catalina Taco Salad</b></li><li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-0" itemprop="ingredients" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">4 cups torn romaine lettuce or lettuce blend</li><li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-1" itemprop="ingredients" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">½-1 pounds ground beef</li><li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-2" itemprop="ingredients" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 cup grated cheddar cheese</li><li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-3" itemprop="ingredients" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 (15 ounce) can dark red kidney beans, rinsed &amp; drained thoroughly</li><li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-4" itemprop="ingredients" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 cup diced tomatoes&nbsp;</li><li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-5" itemprop="ingredients" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 cup pitted ripe black olives, drained</li><li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-6" itemprop="ingredients" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">1 bunch green onions, sliced</li><li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-7" itemprop="ingredients" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Fritos corn chips</li><li class="ingredient" id="zlrecipe-ingredient-8" itemprop="ingredients" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: static; vertical-align: baseline;">Catalina salad dressing</li></ul><div><span style="font-family: Century Gothic, Arial, Helvetica, Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 19.5px;">from Jennifercooks.com</span></span></div>http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2013/09/day-6.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C Smith)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967.post-5577429436672136874Sun, 08 Sep 2013 12:37:00 +00002013-09-08T08:37:04.073-04:00Preparation: The Key to Success<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gqdloWY_GkQ/UixtwoFCbgI/AAAAAAAABDo/JkJJE60nNvE/s1600/prepare.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gqdloWY_GkQ/UixtwoFCbgI/AAAAAAAABDo/JkJJE60nNvE/s1600/prepare.jpeg" /></a></div><br />I believe that preparation is success! &nbsp;I think this is especially true when it comes to what you eat. &nbsp;I make a pretty conscious effort to plan our meals. &nbsp;This decreases trips to the grocery store, time spent figuring it out, etc. &nbsp;Every week I figure out what we are going to have for dinner and make a grocery list of any ingredients that I need to buy. &nbsp;I also try to have 1 or 2 days that I spend a little more time prepping the food. &nbsp;For example, I might chop lots of vegetables or cook a large thing of chicken that will be made for several meals, etc. &nbsp;Here is my menu plan for this week. &nbsp;I will try to post the recipes in my daily posts but didn't want to overwhelm you. &nbsp;Blogging everyday in itself can be overwhelming.<br /><br />Sunday: Catalina Taco Salad<br />Monday: Cranberry Pork Loin w/ green salad<br />Tuesday: Salmon w/ rice &amp; broccoli salad<br />Wednesday: Sirloin steaks w/sweet potato &amp; left over broccoli salad<br />Thursday: Greek chicken w/Quinoa salad <a href="http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/search?q=quinoa">(never heard of quinoa??)</a><br />Friday: Balsamic glazed Pork Loin w/asparagus<br />Saturday: Vegetable stir fry<br /><br />Lunches: Tuna salad, chicken salad w/grapes &amp; left overshttp://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2013/09/preparation-key-to-success.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C Smith)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967.post-4062010438234895414Sun, 08 Sep 2013 12:26:00 +00002013-09-08T08:26:39.417-04:00Day 5Today (Sat) was mostly successful but not 100% perfect. &nbsp;I had lifted weights on Friday and I am still doing the 45:15 workouts so I went into my <i>Zumba</i> class pretty darn sore! &nbsp;I fought thru the pain and I know in the long run it will actually help my soreness. &nbsp;It was a good workout but because my muscles were so tired, I wasn't quite 150%. &nbsp;I love teaching <i>Zumba</i> but it does make it hard to embark on other challenges. &nbsp;I am adding weight training into my schedule twice a week and when you are the teacher of a class, I don't think your students understand how sore and tired you are from other workouts. They still expect that 150%. &nbsp;I am constantly thinking as I workout...will this affect my <i>Zumba</i> class? &nbsp;So, if you are in my class and reading this, please understand that I workout more than just when I see you guys :)<br /><br />My husband has made this tradition of taking our kids out for happy meals on Saturdays after our workout. &nbsp;Yep, you heard me right, I said McDonalds happy meals. &nbsp;I however, had the southwest chicken salad grilled. &nbsp;It is low in calories and super yummy. &nbsp;If you are ever in a rush and want something low in calorie but fast, I encourage you to try it.<br /><br />The rest of the day we were busy running errands and I did eat an apple in the middle of the day. &nbsp;We had planned a date night with a babysitter and had been wanting to try out the new Barley's restaurant in Maryville. &nbsp;I had a chicken wrap, so I did eat some wheat in the tortilla. &nbsp;That was my big fail of the day. &nbsp;I also had a green salad and a coke zero. &nbsp;(I never promised to give them up completely but I am trying hard to reduce my intake).<br /><br />I still feel good about what I got accomplished yesterday. &nbsp;I started this process on Tuesday and I know I have already lost weight. &nbsp;I will be weighing in every Tuesday and reporting how many pounds I lost every week. &nbsp;Watch the ticker at the top of this blog to keep up on my progress!http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2013/09/day-5.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C Smith)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967.post-6560500755693412653Fri, 06 Sep 2013 23:18:00 +00002013-09-06T19:18:14.942-04:00Day 4Today seemed easier! &nbsp;While I am still wanting that diet soda full of delicious carbonation I still have not had one! &nbsp;I started off the morning with a protein packed breakfast similar to yesterday. &nbsp;Then I headed to the gym to meet my friend for some weight lifting. &nbsp;Today was a jam packed day and I had a hair cut appointment at noon. &nbsp;I thought that I would come straight home afterwards and eat my left overs from dinner last night and then go pick up my boy from kindergarten. &nbsp;However, my hair cut took longer than expected and because I live in Greenback I hated to go back home only to have turn around 15 minutes later to go back to Maryville. &nbsp;So, I ate an apple and ran thru Starbucks for an iced coffee.<br /><br />I had about an hour to spare; I called my husband to check in for the day and he suggested that I kill my hour at the mall. &nbsp;What man tells a woman to kill time at the mall? An awesome one! &nbsp;Anyways, I had worn a hole in my <i>Zumba</i> shoes and needed a new pair. &nbsp;I scored some great deals at JC Penny; 2 new pairs of workout capris, 4 new t-shirts and a new pair of shoes from the Shoe Depot. &nbsp;I am looking forward to getting to use some of my new gear at <i>Zumba</i> tomorrow!<br /><br />As soon I got home I ate some meatloaf, I was pretty hungry. &nbsp;For dinner I made a huge, hearty salad. Recipe is below. &nbsp;There will be a separate post on pumping iron, coming soon. &nbsp;Till then you can read my past post on compound movements <a href="http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/search?q=compound">here</a>.<br /><br /><b>Chicken &amp; Chickpea salad</b><br /><ul style="background-color: white; color: #5f6161; font-family: '\'Times New Roman\'', serif; font-size: 13px; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-position: 0px 50%; color: black; font-size: 16px !important; line-height: inherit; list-style: disc inside !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 13px !important; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">2 large romaine hearts, washed and chopped</li><li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-position: 0px 50%; color: black; font-size: 16px !important; line-height: inherit; list-style: disc inside !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 13px !important; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">1 cup pulled cooked chicken breast</li><li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-position: 0px 50%; color: black; font-size: 16px !important; line-height: inherit; list-style: disc inside !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 13px !important; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">1 (15.5 oz) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained</li><li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-position: 0px 50%; color: black; font-size: 16px !important; line-height: inherit; list-style: disc inside !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 13px !important; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">1 cup grape tomatoes, sliced in half</li><li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-position: 0px 50%; color: black; font-size: 16px !important; line-height: inherit; list-style: disc inside !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 13px !important; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">3/4 cup sweet corn&nbsp;</li><li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-position: 0px 50%; color: black; font-size: 16px !important; line-height: inherit; list-style: disc inside !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 13px !important; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese</li><li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-position: 0px 50%; color: black; font-size: 16px !important; line-height: inherit; list-style: disc inside !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 13px !important; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">1/3 cup cilantro, washed and chopped</li><li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-position: 0px 50%; color: black; font-size: 16px !important; line-height: inherit; list-style: disc inside !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 13px !important; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">1 small avocado, diced</li><li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-position: 0px 50%; color: black; font-size: 16px !important; line-height: inherit; list-style: disc inside !important; margin: 0px 0px 0px 13px !important; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">1/2 cup BBQ sauce, if desired</li></ul><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: \Times New Roman\, serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: \Times New Roman\, serif; font-size: xx-small;">from ambitiouskitchen.com</span></div>http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2013/09/day-4.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C Smith)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967.post-5649186739634035348Fri, 06 Sep 2013 12:59:00 +00002013-09-06T08:59:38.800-04:00Day 3Well, I am still craving that one diet coke a day but I have been good and resisted the urge. &nbsp;Even thought I know that they don't have sugar in them; I have read countless studies on how it tricks your body into thinking that it is real sugar and can still spike insulin levels. <br /><br />Yesterday I prepped lots of food. &nbsp;I had bought a 2 Lb pack of really lean ground chuck and I browned 1/3 of it with a little taco seasoning for a salad that we are going to eat later in the week. &nbsp;The other 2/3 I made a meatloaf and that is what we had for dinner. &nbsp;I also put a large package of chicken in the crockpot and let it cook on high for 4 hours. &nbsp;When it was done I shredded it up. &nbsp;Some of it will be used on the salad I am planning to make for dinner tonight and the other I am going to make up some chicken salad with grapes &amp; nuts for lunches. <br /><br />Last night I had Zumba and I neglected to finish the 45:15 challenge, but I am going to do it this morning and maybe I can do it again tonight to catch up. &nbsp;Zumba was awesome! &nbsp;We had 42 people and there was lots of energy. &nbsp;I felt like I had spring in my step and I know it was a great workout. <br /><br />So far, this hasn't been too hard yet. &nbsp;I have bought some of the precooked crumbled sausage bites from Jimmy Dean and have been making that with one egg and a little bell pepper for breakfast that last two days. &nbsp;It is yummy, fast, and high in protein. &nbsp;Because I have been making fairly large dinners there have been left overs which I have enjoyed for lunch. <br /><br />Headed to the gym soon to lift some weights and do the 45:15! &nbsp;For those of you interested in my meatloaf recipe, here it is.<br /><br /><b>Meatloaf</b><br />1-1.5 pounds of lean ground beef<br />1 onion chopped<br />1 bell pepper chopped<br />1/2 C Oatmeal (I use old fashion but quick oats would work too)<br />1 tsp ground black pepper<br />1 small can tomato sauce<br />1 egg beaten<br /><br />Mix all the ingredients together and form into a loaf shape and put in a loaf pan. &nbsp;Cook at 350 for 1 hour. &nbsp;When I am not watching my sugar intake I also mix a little ketchup, worchestire sauce and brown sugar and pour it on top for the last 15 minutes.<br /><br /><br />http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2013/09/day-3.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C Smith)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967.post-20248384751259535Thu, 05 Sep 2013 00:45:00 +00002013-09-04T20:45:41.777-04:00Day 2Today was definitely a little harder. &nbsp;While I didn't really eat any wheat and only a very small amount of sugar I felt like I over ate other things. &nbsp;2 helpings of salad, 1.5 apples with dip, extra handful of nuts, etc...you get the point. &nbsp;It was good healthy food but you can still over eat those too! &nbsp;I have also been trying to give up diet soda. &nbsp;I don't drink many, 1-2 a day but they have always been my treat and that cold yummy goodness has probably been the hardest part. <br /><br />I do love to cook though and I am making some great food. &nbsp;Here are some of the recipes I ate today!<br /><br /><b>Autumn Salad</b><br />Romaine &amp; Green leaf lettuce<br />2 pears sliced<br />1 C of craisins<br />1/2 C feta cheese<br />1/2 C chopped pecans<br />6 slices of lean bacon crumbled<br /><br />Toss all of this together. &nbsp;For the dressing you do 75% poppyseed dressing and 25% balsamic vinaigrette. &nbsp;I use the Newmans Own light. &nbsp;Shake those together and serve. &nbsp;Sounds like a weird combo but it is really good. <br /><br />Since my salad was lacking some good protein and I had some country ribs defrosted I decided to just bake some ribs in the oven. &nbsp;These were boneless and so good. &nbsp;I only ate one. &nbsp;For those of you on a budget these can be delicious and are very reasonably priced.<br /><br /><b>Oven Ribs</b><br />Mix a couple TBSP dijon mustard with 2 tsp of liquid smoke<br />Coat the ribs with this<br />Then add a dry rib rub (you can make one or just buy a premixed)<br />Broil in the oven for 5 minutes<br />Then bake at 300 for 1.5 hours<br />Cover with a little BBQ sauce (I use sweet baby rays)<br />and cook a little longer or broil for a few minutes<br /><br />They are so tender and taste so good. &nbsp;A little high in fat but no carbohydrates and high in protein. &nbsp;If you are are really worried about the fat content then you can trim the ribs better before you start.http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2013/09/day-2.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C Smith)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967.post-796398560435045951Wed, 04 Sep 2013 17:14:00 +00002013-09-04T13:14:53.899-04:00Yummy Snack: Apple DipI pinned this recipe on Pinterest a long time ago and one of my friends told me about mixing the yogurt and PB together. &nbsp;Today I tried it! &nbsp;It is so good. &nbsp;You should try some. &nbsp;It makes four 2 TBSP servings and is about 65 calories.<br /><b><br /></b><b>Apple Dip</b><br /><br /><ul><li>1 container of Oikos vanilla non fat yogurt</li><li>2 TBSP creamy natural Peanut butter</li><li>1 sprinkle of cinnamon</li><li>1/2 TBSP honey</li></ul><br /><br />Mix together and serve with apples! &nbsp;You could also serve with banana.http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2013/09/yummy-snack-apple-dip.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C Smith)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967.post-8073187669168003834Wed, 04 Sep 2013 02:43:00 +00002013-09-03T22:43:17.305-04:00Day 1So I am making some realistic goals for the no wheat/no sugar. &nbsp;I am cutting all wheat but still allowing myself natural sugars like in fruit and milk or sugar that is added to items like ketchup, salad dressing, cheese, etc. &nbsp;But I will not be eating any refined sugar or anything that is a baked good, soda, candy, etc. &nbsp;Today I watched sugars very carefully and still consumed about 35 grams. &nbsp;I think as long as I keep it under 35 that is still good. &nbsp; I am also allowing myself one dark chocolate square per day. &nbsp;It is 35 calories and only 3 grams of sugar. <br /><br />Tonights dinner was Red Beans &amp; Rice. &nbsp;It is so good and so easy that I have to share. &nbsp;It is a recipe from southern living.<br /><br /><b>Red Beans &amp; Rice</b><br />1 pound dried red kidney beans<br />3 celery stalks chopped<br />1 medium yellow onion chopped<br />1 green bell pepper<br />3 TBSP creole seasoning<br />3 cloves of garlic<br />1/2 Lb Andouille sausage, sliced into circles<br />7 Cups of water<br /><br /><i>Add all ingredients to a slow cooker and cook on low for 8 hours. &nbsp;Serve with steamed rice (white jasmine or brown).</i><br /><br />Another yummy favorite is berry oatmeal for breakfast, super easy but very yummy.<br /><b><br /></b><b>Berry Oatmeal</b><br />1/2 C frozen berry medley<br />1 half cup old fashion oats<br />1 tsp ground flax seed (optional)<br />1 C water<br />Serve with agave nectar/sweetener and 2 TBSP of half &amp; half<br /><br /><i>You can either put all of these ingredients in the microwave for 3 minutes or you can cook the oatmeal on the stove and add defrosted berries.</i>http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2013/09/day-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C Smith)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967.post-5094530187520765970Wed, 04 Sep 2013 02:10:00 +00002013-09-03T22:10:03.304-04:0045:15 ChallengeI also started a 45:15 challenge with some of my Zumba peeps and family members. &nbsp;Here is how it works. &nbsp;I will try to post a video soon for any of you who may not know what I mean by the names of these exercises. &nbsp;The challenge is to do 10 minutes every day! &nbsp;There is always time for just 10 minutes, right? &nbsp;It is an interval set of 10 different exercises. &nbsp;You are to do each exercise for 45 seconds and then rest for 15 seconds, move to the next exercise until all 10 are completed. &nbsp;The best part about this is that it is super short, no equipment, gym or trainer needed. &nbsp;Literally there are no excuses! &nbsp;Is it too hard? &nbsp;Start with 30 seconds of exercise and 30 seconds of rest.<br /><br />The exercises:<br /><br /><ol><li>Jumping Jacks (regular)</li><li>Burpees (feet together squat to touch hands to ground, jump feet out to a plank, back in and then stand up)</li><li>Butt kickers (run in place bringing your heel to your butt)</li><li>Speed skaters (jump side to side touching the floor in front of you)</li><li>Jump Rope (in place, no rope required)</li><li>Squat Jump (squat in place and then jump, 1 dynamic movement)</li><li>Shuffle jumps (shuffle in a squat position, step together step, 3x to right and then jump shot, then to the left)</li><li>Plank jacks (hold a plank position on your elbows and jack your feet in and out making a V)</li><li>High Knees (run in place lifting knees up as high as you can)</li><li>Mountain Climbers (with your arms on the floor and your body in an elevated plank position, alternate your knees to your chest like you are running)</li></ol><div>I know these descriptions are vague but you can google most of these exercises for a quick description. Also i will try to get a video tutorial on here ASAP! &nbsp;Any of you up for the challenge? &nbsp;It is only 10 minutes but I guarantee you will be dripping sweat when you are done!</div><div><br /></div><div>Good luck!</div>http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2013/09/4515-challenge.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C Smith)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967.post-8157617912834853212Tue, 03 Sep 2013 01:35:00 +00002013-09-02T21:35:29.103-04:00Hello Old BlogWell, I am not sure why but I have been missing the accountability of my blog. &nbsp;I still have not reached my goal of losing 100 pounds. &nbsp;I have had lots of major set backs and some gains and have finally lost again and can start to see the goal in sight. &nbsp;I only have about 30 pounds to go! &nbsp;I was thinking that maybe if I started blogging about it again that I would keep myself more in check. &nbsp;I am hoping to blog every day for the month of September. &nbsp;I actually became a Zumba instructor almost a year ago and I need to prove to myself as well as to my students that this is the best way to live. &nbsp;In order to kick start myself and it should be a hell of a quick start I have gave myself a challenge.<br /><br />The past 10 days my mother-in-law, father-in-law and nephew have been visiting from Idaho. &nbsp;My mother in law has recently given up wheat for many reasons and while I don't feel like it is a lifestyle change for me I do feel like it would help jump start me to give it up for a while. &nbsp;I had read the wheat belly diet a while back and I do think that there is some validity to it. &nbsp;However, my weakness has always been sugar! &nbsp;So I know that I really need to put that in check too.<br /><br />So here is the deal. &nbsp;My MIL was so good with her diet while she was visiting. &nbsp;We all ate sandwiches, and bread and homemade cookies and she totally refrained. &nbsp;I never saw her cheat once. &nbsp;I am so proud of her and the changes she made. &nbsp;I on the other hand totally indulged in some of the yummy goodness. But...I workout a lot. &nbsp;I cycle, teach <i>Zumba</i>, cross train, etc and my mother in law pretty much doesn't exercise at all. &nbsp;This week while she was visiting we had her doing tons of walking, she came to one of my <i>Zumba</i> classes, went on a 5 mile bike ride, swam in the lake and more. &nbsp;Her body is totally capable but its hard to get that first step out the door sometimes. &nbsp;She lost weight on vacation! &nbsp;Who does that??<br /><br />I made her a deal. &nbsp;If she would promise me to exercise for 30 minutes a day, 4 days a week for the whole month of September (like I have been doing)...then I would give up wheat and sugar for the whole month (like she has). &nbsp;I was hoping we could help the other person with our weaknesses. <br /><br />We are similar in size and can pretty much share clothes. &nbsp;We took some before pictures and are working as a team to keep this going. &nbsp;I'll be blogging every day about how I am feeling and what I am eating. &nbsp;For those of you that see me, if I am grumpy this might be why! &nbsp;Haha. <br /><br />Wish me luck, I am going to need it :)http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2013/09/hello-old-blog.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C Smith)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967.post-1959687401992162922Tue, 29 May 2012 11:47:00 +00002012-05-29T07:47:18.579-04:00Verde PorkI made this recipe up a few weeks ago and it is super easy and really good. &nbsp;I shared it with my two&nbsp;nieces&nbsp;and they liked it too. <br /><br /><b>Verde Pork</b><br /><br /><ul><li>1 2.5-3.5 Lb Pork Roast (I use Pork Loin and trim off any fat)</li><li>1/2 finely chopped fresh onion or 2 TBSP dry onion</li><li>1 medium-large can of green enchilada sauce</li><li>2 small cans of diced green chiles</li><li>1/2 tsp cumin</li><li>1/2 tsp chile powder</li><li>avocado, sour cream, cilantro (optional garnish)</li></ul><br /><br />Put your roast &amp; onions in the crock pot with about a half cup of water or chicken broth. &nbsp;Let it cook on high for about 3-4 hours. &nbsp;Drain off any liquid (I use a turkey baster to suck it all out but if you don't have one you can ladle it out). &nbsp;Mix all of your other ingredients together and poor on top of the roast. &nbsp;Let it cook for another hour (maybe more depending on size of roast and your croc-pot). &nbsp;Shred the roast and serve with soft taco size tortillas. &nbsp;It may be a little soupy but that is okay. &nbsp;Just serve with a slotted spoon, it will ensure that the meat doesn't get dry. &nbsp;Garnish with light sour cream, avocado and fresh cilantro. <br /><br />**Tip: If you are in a hurry, cut your roast in half or in quarters. &nbsp;It will help it cook faster and you are going to shred it any way. &nbsp;I shred mine by putting it in my kitchen aid mixer with the metal paddle. &nbsp;It shreds pork and chicken very easily.http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2012/05/verde-pork.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C Smith)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967.post-5367762083890100809Tue, 29 May 2012 11:34:00 +00002012-05-29T07:34:38.398-04:00Weekly Weigh In: May 29<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NaMXUOe-7p8/T8S0IKvobqI/AAAAAAAABBw/tKbg_Jg8EVQ/s1600/photo-47.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NaMXUOe-7p8/T8S0IKvobqI/AAAAAAAABBw/tKbg_Jg8EVQ/s200/photo-47.JPG" width="181" /></a></div><div><br /></div>Here it is, sorry I am a day late. &nbsp;We were out of town for Memorial Weekend. &nbsp;A small loss, about 1.5 pounds. &nbsp;I am happy and sad about it. &nbsp;I was 181 on Friday but then by Monday I had gained some of my losses back. &nbsp;I guess that is what a long holiday weekend of camping can do for you. &nbsp;It is kind of hard to cook super healthy on the fire grill. &nbsp;I could have done better but I was tempted with lots of treats. &nbsp;<div><br /></div><div>We did do lots of walking though. &nbsp;We walked around our campground a ton of times with the kids and we did a short little one mile hike to the top of look rock. &nbsp;We stayed in the Smokies on the Foothills Parkway. &nbsp;The kids had so much fun. &nbsp;Hudson cried when we left. &nbsp;He made some good friends in the campground and luckily they live close. &nbsp;Hopefully we will see them again. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>This week is a week of no excuses. &nbsp;I have literally nothing to distract me. &nbsp;I don't have any CPR that I am teaching. &nbsp;I have some classes but other people are teaching. &nbsp;Tomorrow we are going to Splash Country but I am going to pack us a cooler and eat from that. &nbsp;Thursday is our weekly Zumba and Splash. &nbsp;There are about five of us girls that zumba together and then go to a friend's house to swim with our kids. &nbsp;It is so much fun! &nbsp;Friday and the weekend are totally free. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Hudson is doing so good swimming. &nbsp;He was even swimming in the deep end last week, jumping off the diving board and swimming to the side. &nbsp;I want to ensure that he is a GOOD swimmer. &nbsp;He is starting 6 more private swimming lessons today. &nbsp;They are at the gym every Tues &amp; Thurs, so I will already be at the gym those days. &nbsp;He did 6 group lessons and really did well so I think after these 6 private lessons, he will be good to go for this year. &nbsp;Maybe next year he can take some more just to perfect his strokes :)</div><div><br /></div><div>I actually did really good meal planning this week and have all the groceries to make 6 yummy, healthy dinners. &nbsp;I'll try to post the recipes. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Goal for this week: &nbsp;To be in the 180's...even if it is 189.9</div>http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2012/05/weekly-weigh-in-may-29.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C Smith)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967.post-2613912460003272439Thu, 24 May 2012 12:12:00 +00002012-05-24T08:12:12.269-04:00Freakin? Friggin? Frickin?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Yesterday I went to the mail box and there was a card for me! &nbsp;You have to admit...don't you love to still get some snail mail every once in a while? &nbsp;I opened the card and the front looked like this.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BuIQZg0FxiM/T74cv5wVFWI/AAAAAAAABBI/DUYx1XyCS4Q/s1600/photo+1-38.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BuIQZg0FxiM/T74cv5wVFWI/AAAAAAAABBI/DUYx1XyCS4Q/s320/photo+1-38.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">When I opened it, the inside said,&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">"You can cope with anything if you have a FRIEND and a GOOD "F" WORD substitute"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is SO true! &nbsp;Lol. &nbsp;Friends are so important. &nbsp;Just this weekend I was talking to my brother-in-law about friendships and how much they mean. &nbsp;I must say that I try really hard to be a good friend. &nbsp;I like to do little things for my friends and I try really hard to stay in touch even with the ones I haven't seen in a while. &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">The girl that sent this card is one of my sweetest friends in Tennessee. &nbsp;I have actually known her for seven years but our friendship has really flourished in the past year since she quit her job and became a stay at home mom. &nbsp;We were able to start spending more time together. &nbsp;I also recently hired her to teach CPR and she is awesome! &nbsp;I couldn't have a better person to rely on. &nbsp;Kristy is a great friend, she has came over the day before a birthday party and helped me prep my house, we have made meals together, went on countless play dates with our kids, etc. &nbsp;I am so glad to have her in my life. &nbsp;It's really crazy that we are friends though, really I was friends with her husband first. &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I worked with her husband, Jason at the first hospital that I worked at in Tennessee. &nbsp;We hit it off as friends immediately. &nbsp;He was motivated, driven and I knew he was bound for success. &nbsp;He also at the time had a job that made a whole lot more money than me, I was the lowly secretary...lol. &nbsp;I was bored and needed more so I started taking on projects for him and going to his meetings to do grunt work like taking minutes, etc. &nbsp;Any time I had free time I would try to help him and learn what he was doing. &nbsp;I became an expert at v-look ups in excel and I don't think he minded having an assistant. &nbsp;He soon informed me after about 5 months that he was going to go into sales and leave the hospital in about a month. &nbsp;My mind was spinning. &nbsp;Could I do his job? &nbsp;I went in to overdrive trying to learn as much as I could during that month and he did a good job teaching me as much as he could. &nbsp;As soon as he left, I put in my application. &nbsp;I had only worked there for 6 months as the administrative assistant and now I was trying to be a Contract Analyst. &nbsp;Let's just say that my older co-workers with more&nbsp;seniority&nbsp;were not happy about it. &nbsp;It wasn't that they really wanted the job, but who was I? Some new girl from out west...the secretary!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, I got that job and I loved it. &nbsp;It was only because of that job that I decided to follow in Jason's footsteps and get my MBA. &nbsp;I think I got the job in December and started back to college in January. &nbsp;I continued to work in that type of roll for several years and then even moved on to another hospital with a similar job with more responsibility. &nbsp;I owe a lot of my career to having a good mentor. &nbsp;Technically Jason and I only worked together for 6 short months but we stayed in touch, got together for double dates (where I met his wife) about once a year and saw each other at professional meetings. &nbsp;By the way, he went on to become a corporate director of the largest hospital in Knox county and recently won the "40 under 40" in Knoxville.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kristy and I were phone friends. &nbsp;Before I had Hudson I had a miscarriage at 10 weeks. &nbsp;It was really hard on me both emotionally and physically. &nbsp;Needless to say, it seemed like most of the family didn't understand and I felt alone. &nbsp;Travis tried to be caring and understanding but he just didn't quite get what I was going through. &nbsp;I knew that Kristy had also had a miscarriage with her first baby and then quickly became pregnant after. &nbsp;It gave me hope. &nbsp;I called her and talked to her and she was a good shoulder to lean on. &nbsp;Once I had the kids, she was the friend I would call for advice since both of her kids are almost exactly a year older than mine. &nbsp;For the past 4 years we have chatted on the phone fairly regularly and then like I said she quit her job and then our friendship was able to grow. &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Not sure why I am telling you all this history but I guess it's because both of their friendships truly changed my life and my career. I am thankful to have them both.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m1HxpcyaqBk/T74jkabKhiI/AAAAAAAABBk/AiVM0ubxKzw/s1600/photo-44.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m1HxpcyaqBk/T74jkabKhiI/AAAAAAAABBk/AiVM0ubxKzw/s320/photo-44.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Kristy is so SWEET. &nbsp;Have I mentioned that she is super skinny, fit and beautiful? &nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;">I kind of hate her for that!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Her note in the card says,</div><div style="text-align: center;">"Just a little note to say that you look great...beautiful...amazing...and you have already accomplished more than most people do in their health goals. &nbsp;I am going to be so jealous of your new boobs, it's going to be hard to be around you! &nbsp;Keep on Keepin' On. &nbsp;Love ya friend!"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0yZGpRYxW4g/T74jbjkK0_I/AAAAAAAABBU/Bek0xTGdeeQ/s1600/photo-46.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0yZGpRYxW4g/T74jbjkK0_I/AAAAAAAABBU/Bek0xTGdeeQ/s320/photo-46.JPG" width="298" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">How great is that? &nbsp;That is a true friend for you and just what I needed. &nbsp;<a href="http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2011/03/my-reward.html">In regards to the new boobs, I am really trying to get to my goal weight of 140 so I can fix what I have! </a>&nbsp;If you missed the post about it...here it is on the link above. &nbsp;Last week we all went to Dollywood with Jason, Kristy and their kiddos. &nbsp;Here is a quick pic I snapped.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I guess I will get ready for the gym now....and KEEP ON KEEPIN' ON.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks Kristy!</div>http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2012/05/freakin-friggin-frickin.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C Smith)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967.post-1326140595285758717Wed, 23 May 2012 12:09:00 +00002012-05-23T08:09:33.388-04:00Idaho....here we come!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0laqg1WD7no/T7zS8HQ5hYI/AAAAAAAABA8/tb-l-qMaMF8/s1600/idaho-map.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0laqg1WD7no/T7zS8HQ5hYI/AAAAAAAABA8/tb-l-qMaMF8/s320/idaho-map.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br />Looks like we will be heading to Idaho a little later than we had first expected. &nbsp;I am little happy, since it will give me two weeks more of cushion to get on this weight loss. &nbsp;We are planning to leave on July 14 and spend some time with Travis's family until the 22nd. &nbsp;Travis then is going to head back to Knoxville since he has to work. &nbsp;I am going to go spend a few days in Boise and see my friends and family. &nbsp;My cousin Ryan offered to pick us up in Idaho Falls and fly us to Boise. &nbsp;The kids will be so excited to fly in his plane again. &nbsp;Last year, Hudson got to co-pilot, this year since he is even older it will definitely be something he doesn't forget and I am grateful not to have to drive the 5 hours. &nbsp;I am going to stay in Boise until the 26th. &nbsp;That should give me sometime to see my mom, cousins and friends. &nbsp;I will bring the kids home with me. <br /><br />The trip is 7 weeks away and I know that a miracle can't happen in that much time, so I am just going to try and be steady and stick with it. &nbsp;Hopefully I can at least lose the weight I had gained and be back to where I was last summer. <br /><br />I am really excited about going to Idaho this time of year. &nbsp;It has been a very long time since we have been there in the middle of the summer. &nbsp;We almost always go in the winter. &nbsp;Last year we went in September and it was very nice but I am excited for it to be HOT. &nbsp;Hudson is so excited to see his cousins and go swimming and to float the river with his Grandpa Clair. <br /><br />I went back to writing my goal on my wrist, so I will have a constant reminder of what I am trying to achieve. <br />&nbsp;http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2012/05/idahohere-we-come.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C Smith)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9072965736923782967.post-5056460078259356847Tue, 22 May 2012 22:20:00 +00002012-05-22T18:20:45.581-04:00Some Good with the BadOK...I shared the bad news! &nbsp;I am out of the closet. &nbsp;Here I am at 194 pounds again! &nbsp;However, there is some good news too. &nbsp;I have no idea why but yesterday I had two people come up to me at the gym and say, "I can't believe how much weight you have lost, since you started coming here". &nbsp;Funny thing is...I started coming in January and I haven't lost a single pound. &nbsp;I do think that my body is changing a little. &nbsp;I am not in denial though about muscle and fat, etc. &nbsp;But it still feels nice to have people come tell you that you look great!<br /><br />I also got an amazing and motivational Facebook comment from my Zumba instructor. &nbsp;It are little things like this that keep me going. &nbsp;A couple of Saturdays ago there were 3 new girls in class and they were all about 25-50 Lbs heavier than me. &nbsp;I guess they talked with Kimberlie after class. &nbsp;Here is what she sent me. &nbsp;At least I can still shake my BIG BOOTY! <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PU9caXf5P9Y/T7wRA0gtcbI/AAAAAAAABAw/CSky_gdIFM8/s1600/photo+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PU9caXf5P9Y/T7wRA0gtcbI/AAAAAAAABAw/CSky_gdIFM8/s320/photo+(2).JPG" width="320" /></a></div>http://journeytoward100.blogspot.com/2012/05/some-good-with-bad.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (C Smith)1